Name: Natasha Arora Age: “Ageless – like my sense of style.” Occupation: Interior decorator Bio: This boisterous yet refreshingly erudite former public relations worker had been redecorating homes as a hobby for just under a decade before deciding to go whole hawg and turn pro. An energetic lass, Natasha says the first time she was […]
THE PEOPLE COLUMN
For close to 14 years [1998-2012] People was a wildly popular, fun and often outrageous column published every week in the now defunct Montreal Mirror. Over the course of its run People was dedicated to profiling Montrealers from all walks of life, from politicians and prostitutes to plastic surgeons, Satanists, priests, and dog catchers. Always as informative as it was humorous, People is proof positive that everybody, no matter how dull or pedestrian they and/or their occupations may appear on the surface, has a good story to tell if you’re prepared to dig deep enough to find it. Fortunately, while the Montreal Mirror website [along with its 30-plus years of archives] was taken down when the newspaper folded in 2012, I arranged to hang on to several years worth of People columns, many of which that will be re-published here on a weekly basis.
Cheap Fix: Montreal Vet Cures Ailing Animals on the Cheap
Name: Richard Allan Age: 63 Occupation: Veterinarian Bio: This hard workin’, hard lovin’ South Shore resident and dedicated environmentalist operates the Taschereau Veterinarian Hospital in Greenfield Park, arguably the most affordable vet clinic in these parts. The Wal-Mart of animal hospitals, Dr. Allan will usually get ol’ Fluffy feeling like herself again for a fraction […]
Media grabber: Publicizing other people’s problems to news folks a snap for marketing whiz Carlo Tarini
Name: Carlo Tarini Age: 44 Occupation: Consumer advocate/activist/publicist Bio: This South Shore heartbreaker had been working as a marketing specialist for the Montreal Alouettes, when, approximately 10 years ago, he was approached by a local publisher to work his media magic on a book about the Dionne quintuplets. Meeting the surviving Dionne sisters and having […]
Yabba dabba Doula! Birthing buddy offers companionship and support for women about to pop
Name: Lesley Everest Age: 40-ish Occupation: Doula Bio: This delicious mother of three and Plateau resident has been doing da doula for close to 20 years now. A one-time aspiring midwife, Lesley opted to become a doula instead, discouraged by the politics of midwifery at the time of her training and because, “All I really […]
Last word on the runway: vigilance and sobriety are required traits for controlling air traffic
Name: Peter Hudgin Age: 48 Occupation: Air traffic controller Salary: Very good. “But it goes hand in hand with the training and responsibilities that the job entails.” Bio: This sassy Beaconsfield stud has been directing air traffic at Dorval airport since the tender age of 19. A first-rate handyman, he says his favourite way to […]